Classical guitarist Lynn McGrath is
being heralded as a phenom. Blending expressive musicianship with her
passion for Spanish Language, literature, and theater, she has shared
the poetry and music of “Platero y Yo” with audiences on four continents
in the role of both guitarist and theatrical narrator. She has brought
the poetry of Nobel laureate Juan Ramón Jiménez to life for diverse
audiences that have included children in a Peruvian orphanage to
classical guitar connoisseurs. One critic wrote the following after
hearing her performance at the Guitar Foundation of America Convention:
“…wonderful timing, poise, wit, and grace, while getting a full rich
sound from her guitar. Anyone who loves either music or poetry would
have been charmed, but those who appreciate both, not to mention stage
presence and acting skills, were electrified by this tour-de-force of
artistic multi-tasking. —Richard M. Long, Editor, Soundboard
A
touring soloist, chamber artist, and respected pedagogue, Lynn McGrath
has appeared in North America, South America, Europe, and New Zealand as
performer, lecturer, conductor, and an adjudicator for a number of
international and national festivals including the Nikšic Festival
(Montenegro), Silesian Guitar Autumn Festival (Poland), and the Guitar
on the Mediterranean Festival (Italy), and the Guitar Foundation of
America Convention (US). She has also presented at the Victoria
Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, the University of Veracruz,
and Mannes College and appeared at venues including the Troy Savings
Hall (NY), The National Hispanic Cultural Center (Albuquerque), and the
Skirball Cultural Center (LA) in addition to performing on radio
stations in the Southwest and along the East Coast. In June of 2015,
Lynn performed in 6 cities in New Zealand and on New Zealand National
Radio.
In addition to solo performances, Lynn McGrath is a member
of the highly acclaimed Tantalus Guitar Quartet, and former member of
the trio, Presti. She has been a soloist with the Orchestra of Northern
New York, performed with the Albuquerque-based choir Quintessence, and
the Santa Fe Opera. After receiving degrees in Spanish Language and
Literature as well as Education, she completed a music degree with
Douglas Rubio at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam (where she
taught as a full-time instructor) and went on to earn a MM and DMA from
the University of Southern California, studying with such luminaries as
William Kanengiser, Pepe Romero, and James Smith.
While
living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lynn established a guitar program at
Sandia Preparatory School, taught at Central New Mexico Community
College and for The University of New Mexico's Music Prep School, and
ran a thriving private studio. She is the Director of Regional Symposia
for the Guitar Foundation of America and the Artistic Director of the
organization's annual International Youth Competition. Her students have
been accepted, and many have received full scholarships to some of the
best undergraduate and graduate schools in the nation, have placed in
international competitions, and have been featured on NPR’s “From the
Top”. In 2016, Lynn taught as an adjunct instructor at Oklahoma City
University and in Fall of 2017 joined the faculty at the Eastman
Community Music School, University of Rochester, NY.
Artist's Website: lynnmcgrath.com